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Young people from all over Renfrewshire are set to pack in to St Mirren Park for a world cup style tournament and fun day later this month.

Less than a week after the World Cup final, teams of young people from Renfrewshire’s communities will take part in the Safer and Stronger Street Football Tournament.

The massive event takes place on Saturday 17 July and as well as the football there’s a whole host of activities on offer for young people.

Friends and families are also invited to come along and enjoy the huge range of entertainments on offer including street rugby, street hockey, two climbing walls, skate ramp, basketball, tennis, and a bouncy castle.

As well as these there will also be the Renfrewshire Youth Bus, Youth Gym Bus, the Box entertainment unit kitted with dance mats, and a DJ booth.

The Safer and Stronger Street Football Tournament is part of the award-winning Investing in Future diversion activity project.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay said: “Investing in Future has been a massive success with these activities going out to different communities every week to provide young people with fun, healthy activities to get involved in. This will be the first time we’ve had an event like this where all those activities, and more, are going to be in one place. We’re inviting young people, and their families, to come from all over Renfrewshire. You don’t have to be playing in the football tournament as there’s so much going on on the day, there is going to be something for everyone.”

Teams taking part in the football tournament have been made up from young people who take part in St Mirren’s street football programme in local communities.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Street Football Tournament here today at St Mirren Park. Since my arrival at the Club, I have heard a lot about the amount of excellent programmes that are done by St Mirren within the local community. The Street Football programme has already been given a community award and is a fantastic programme and is well known throughout the whole Renfrewshire area.
“Over the years, football skills have been developed through practice and many a quality player has come from playing street football in their youth. St Mirren FC is delighted to be heavily involved within the programme and it is only fitting that St Mirren Park hosts today’s tournament.
“I am sure everyone attending will have a great day whether playing or watching the action.”
As well as the young people the organisations involved in the project will be getting in on the act with their own mini tournament which will see teams from the police, fire service, Renfrewshire Wardens Service, and others go head to head.

The event is free to attend and kicks off at 10am at St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, on Saturday 17th July.

Reducing antisocial behaviour is one of the key targets of the Safer and Stronger Partnership which sees Renfrewshire Council, Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and other organisations working together to make Renfrewshire a safer place to live, work and visit.